Trade Counter Sales Advisor

UK Plumbing Supplies (trading as UKPS); Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share scheme

Full training on products

Autonomy at counter

Job summary

Plumbase Barking is seeking a proactive Sales Assistant who can handle trade counter duties and manage customer orders and quotes via email, with strong product knowledge across plumbing and heating. This role is built around ownership: you’ll build relationships with customers, spot opportunities to win new business, and make commercial decisions on pricing and stock in collaboration with the manager.

You’ll join the UK’s largest independent plumbing network, working autonomously on site, with

Qualifications

• Experience in a merchant environment or trade counter is advantageous.
• Ability to build quotes and manage customer accounts.
• Strong product knowledge across plumbing and heating essential.

Responsibilities

• Serve trade and retail customers on the counter and build relationships that drive repeat business.
• Build quotes, manage orders and take ownership of customer accounts.
• Work closely with the Manager on pricing, stock decisions and supplier relationships
• Get involved in trade events, customer visits and local outreach to drive sales
• Maintain strong product knowledge across plumbing and heating to advise customers
• Support the wider operation including picking, packing and keeping the site running efficiently

Skills

Trade counter sales

Relationship building

Quotes & pricing

Phone outreach

Product knowledge

Driving licence

Tools

Stock management system

Job description

If you’re expecting a standard Trade Counter role where you stand behind a desk and wait for the next customer, this isn’t it.

This is a Sales Assistant role for someone who wants more than just to serve customers. If you’ve got the instinct to spot opportunities and the confidence to act on them, you’ll fit in well here. You will be looking after existing customer orders and quote requests via email, all computer based as well as serving on the Trade counter during busy periods.

At Plumbase Barking, our Trade Counter Sales Advisors are right at the centre of how our site performs. Yes, you’ll serve customers, build quotes and manage accounts, but that’s only part of the job.

This role is built around ownership. You’ll be building relationships with the customers you are looking after as part of your sales assistant role and will be looking at opportunities to bringing in new business.

We operate as part of the UK’s largest independent network of plumbing and heating merchants with over 310 sites nationwide. Each site runs with real autonomy, you’re not just following a script or waiting for instructions from head office. You’re making commercial decisions, influencing stock, working with suppliers and getting involved in anything that drives sales and margin.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve trade and retail customers on the counter, building relationships that drive repeat business.
• Build quotes, manage orders and take ownership of customer accounts.
• Work closely with the Manager on pricing, stock decisions and supplier relationships
• Get involved in trade events, customer visits and local outreach to drive sales
• Maintain strong product knowledge across plumbing and heating to confidently advise customers
• Support the wider operation including picking, packing and keeping the site running efficiently

This is a role where you’re expected to think commercially. The better the merchant performs, the more everyone benefits from it.

What We’re Looking For:

This role suits someone who understands that a Sales Advisor/Trade counter can be more than just a counter role.

You might currently be a:

• Sales Assistant within a merchant environment

You’ll likely bring:

• Experience within a plumbing & heating, builders merchant or similar trade environment
• Confidence dealing with trade customers and building long-term relationships
• A commercial mindset. You’re aware of margin, pricing and opportunities to grow accounts
• A proactive approach. You’re comfortable picking up the phone, speaking to customers and generating business
• Strong product awareness or the ability to learn quickly
• A hands-on attitude. You’ll want to be involved in all areas of the site, not just the counter
• A full UK driving licence

What You’ll Get:

• Competitive salary + profit share scheme
• Full training on products and systems
• Real autonomy in how you run the counter and interact with customers
• The chance to grow in a business that rewards initiative, not just tenure